1.Consider the following statements regarding Drug Discovery Hackathon 2020
- It has been jointly organised by the All India Council for Technical Education and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
- It aims to provide a platform to all people who have ideas for the development of cures against COVID-19
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: Drug Discovery Hackathon jointly launched by Union Ministers Dr Harsh Vardhan and Ramesh Pokhriyal
- Human Resources and Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today jointly launched the Drug Discovery Hackathon 2020.
- Objective: To provide a platform to all people who have ideas for the development of cures against COVID-19. Hence statement 2 is correct
- It is an online competition and anybody from anywhere in the country or world can participate.
- Participants will submit their ideas online in the Hackathon after which the CSIR laboratories, privates labs and startups will work towards executing them.
- It has been jointly organised by the All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE) and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR). Hence statement 1 is correct
- The hackathon is being supported by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing(CDAC), MyGov as well as private players.
Source: http://newsonair.com/Main-News-Details.aspx?id=392763
2.Consider the following statements
Conservation Reserves can be declared by the State Governments in any area owned by private.
The rights of people living inside a Conservation Reserve are affected upon its declaration.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation:
In NEWS:Stay on handing over Yelahanka Puttenahalli lake to BBMP for maintenance
- The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday stayed the State government’s notification of handing over Yelahanka Puttenahalli lake to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for maintenance as the lake is part of the Puttenahalli Lake Bird Conservation Reserve.
- Pointing out that the lake is part of the landscape notified as a conservation reserve under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, the bench said that the State government could not have issued an executive order of handing over the lake to the BBMP for maintenance
About Conservation Reserves
- Conservation Reserves can be declared by the State Governments in any area owned by the Government, particularly the areas adjacent to National Parks andSanctuaries and those areas which link one Protected Area with another.Hence statement 1 is incorrect
- Such a declaration should be made after having consultations with the local communities.
- The aim of conservation reserves is to protect landscapes, seascapes, flora and fauna and their habitat.
- They act as buffer zones between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected forests of India.
- The rights of people living inside a Conservation Reserve are not affected.Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
- These protected area categories were first introduced in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 − the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
3.The term ‘Assam Keelback’ sometimes seen in news, is related to
a snake species endemic to Assam
an herbal tea to boost antibody against covid 19
a drum made out of the wood of the jackfruit tree
a rare turtles in Assam temples
Answer: (a) a snake species endemic to Assam
Explanation:
In NEWS:Explained: The Assam snake that was lost and found 129 years later
The Assam Keelback snake species was found 129 years after it was last spotted in 1891.
- Assam Keelback or Herpetoreaspealii, is a snake species endemic to Assam.Hence option (a) is correct.
- The non-venomous brown snake was found in the Poba Reserve Forestwhile retracing the steps of the Abor Expedition.
- As no sighting of the snake had been reported since and it was considered a lost species.
- The snake belongs to a unique genus (Herpetoreas) found in Eastern and Western Himalayas, South China and Northeast India.
- IUCN status: Data Deficient
Abor Expedition:
- Abor Expedition is a military (punitive) expedition against the Abors in Assam on the North-Eastern Frontier of India lasting from October 1911 to April 1912.
- The expedition followed the murder of Mr Noel Williamson (Assistant Political Officer in the districts of Sadiya and Lakhimpur) and his party.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/assam-keelback-snake-6483531/
4.Consider the following statements
- Pinaka is a twin-engine jet fighter aircraft designed and developed in Russia.
- Astra is an all-weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: MoD approves 33 new fighter jets for IAF in deals worth ₹38,900 crore
The escalating border tensions with China called for improving the defence capability and due to this Defence Acquisition Council cleared 38900 crore worth of deals.
Procurement of:
MIG-29:
- The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a twin-engine jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union.
- Developed by the Mikoyan design bureau as an air superiority fighter during the 1970s.
- The MiG-29 has also been a popular export aircraft; more than 30 nations either operate or have operated the aircraft to date.
Sukhoi – 30:
- The Sukhoi Su-30 is a twin-engine, two-seat super manoeuvrable fighter aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by Russia’s Sukhoi Aviation Corporation.
- It is a multirole fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions.
Pinaka:
- Pinakais a multiple rocket launcher produced in India and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the Indian Army. Hence statement 1 is incorrect
- The system has a maximum range of 40 km for Mark-I and 75 km for Mark-II, and can fire a salvo of 12 HE rockets in 44 seconds.
Astra:
- Astra is an all weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. Hence statement 2 is correct
- It is the first air-to-air missile developed by India.
- It features mid-course inertial guidance with terminal active radar homing.
5.In the context of sustainable development Goals, which of the below are had negatively affected SDG’s goals during this pandemic?
- SDG 3 (good health and wellbeing)
- SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth)
- SDG 2 (zero hunger)
- SDG 13 (climate action)
Select the correct options from the given below codes
- 2 and 4 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1,3 and 4 only
- 1,2 and 3 only
Answer: (d) 1,2 and 3 only
Explanation:
In NEWS:COVID‑19 will have severe impact on most SDGs: Report
- The novel coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID‑19) will have severe negative impacts on most of the United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to a report that has tracked the progress of 166 countries since 2015.
- The SDGs are a collection of 17 global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”.
- India faces major challenges in 10 of the 17 SDGs which include — zero hunger, good health, gender inequality among others. There are significant challenges in another three SDGs — no poverty (SDG 1), Life below water (SDG 14) and Life on land (SDG 15).
- The health, economic and social crises triggered by COVID-19 called for increased international collaboration and solidarity to support the most vulnerable countries.
The report said COVID-19 had negatively affected several goals including: Hence option (d) is correct.
- SDG 1 (no poverty)
- SDG 2 (zero hunger)
- SDG 3 (good health and wellbeing)
- SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth)
- SDG 10 (reduced inequalities)
At the same time, the pandemic had brought “immediate relief” in areas related to:
- SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production)
- SDG 13 (climate action)
- SDG 14 (life below water)
- SDG 15 (life on land)
6.Consider the following statements
- Nimmu is surrounded by the Zanskar range and is on bank of the river Indus
- Nimmu is a village located in the southeastern part of the Ladakh region
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS:Age of expansionism is over, PM says in Ladakh
India’s resolve to protect its territory is as high as the Himalayas
About Nimu
- Nimu area is located at an altitude if 11,000 feet. Nimu is a small picturesque village located in South East part of Ladakh. Hence statement 2 is correct
- Nimuis at the confluence of rivers Indus and Zanskar. It has a hydroelectric power plant known as the Nimu-Bazgo dam and is also used by tourists for rafting.
- Nimu is surrounded by the Zanskar range and is on bank of the river Indus. Hence statement 1 is correct
- Nimu is the reserve brigade headquarter of the Indian Army
- Magnet Hill or Nimoo-Leh Magnet Hillis a gravity hill located near Leh in Ladakh, India. Due to the surrounding geographical features, it has an optical illusion where vehicles seem to roll uphill in defiance of gravity when they are, in fact, rolling downhill.
- It is 7.5 km southeast of Nimo and 26.5 km west of Leh on Srinagar-Ladakh road.
Source: TH
7.This national park is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park and it is located in Kodagu district and Mysore district in Karnataka.It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
It is one of India’s premier Tiger Reserves along with the adjoining Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. It was declared the thirty-seventh Project Tiger, Tiger reserves of India in 1999. The above description refers to which of the following National Park?
- Bannerghatta National Park
- Nagarhole National Park
- Anshi National Park
- Gugamal National Park
Answer: (b) Nagarhole National Park
Explanation:
In NEWS: Traffic on roads abutting Nagarahole Park to be monitored
- The Forest Department will soon put in place traffic monitoring mechanism along the roads adjacent to Nagarahole National Park and crisis crossing Mysuru and Kodagu districts to ensure better compliance of forest laws by motorists and to minimise road kills.
- This mechanism will ensure that the motorist do not hang around or over speed which can result in animal kill
About Nagarhole National Park
- NagarholeNational Park is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park. It is a national park located in Kodagu district and Mysore district in Karnataka. Hence option (b) is correct.
- It was given the status of a National Park in 1983.
- The park ranges the foothills of the Western Ghats spreading down the Brahmagiri hills and south towards Kerala state
- It lies between the latitudes 12°15’37.69″N and longitudes 76°17’34.4″E.
- It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
- The park is filled with waterfalls, hills, valleys, streams, and The park is famous for its rich population of animals and birds.
- Nagarhole national park has the highest density of herbivores in Asia. This park is best for spotting elephants, guar, tiger, and
- It was declared the thirty-seventh Project Tiger, Tiger reserves of India in 1999.
- The Nilgiri subcluster and the whole of Nagarhole park are under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.
- The park has rich forest cover, small streams, hills, valleys, and The park has a healthy predator-prey ratio, with many tigers, Indian bison, and elephants.
- The Jenu Kurubas, primary inhabitants of this forest area, are a tribe in Karnataka state.
- It is one of India’s premier Tiger Reserves along with the adjoining Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
Source: TH
8.Consider the following statements regarding National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority
- It acts as an independent Regulator for pricing of drugs and to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices
- Under DPCO 2013, NPPA monitors the price of medicines that are listed in National List of Essential Medicines
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: Not the time to profiteer: NPPA
- To ensure sufficient availability of critical medical equipment for clinical management of COVID19 in the country, the Union Health Ministry said that it had identified a list of critical medical equipment and had requested the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to ensure its availability at affordable prices
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority:
- NPPA was constituted in 1997 under Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
- It acts as an independent Regulator for pricing of drugs and to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- The NPPA regularly publishes lists of medicines and their maximum ceiling prices.
Functions of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority:
- To implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order in accordance with the powers delegated to it.
- To deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the Authority.
- To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps.
- To collect/ maintain data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc., for bulk drugs and formulations.
About Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013:
- Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO) are issued by the Government, under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to declare a ceiling price for essential and lifesaving medicines.
- Under DPCO, NPPA monitors the price of medicines that are listed in National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).Hence statement 2 is correct
- Thus, NLEM forms the basis of deciding which medicines should come under price control via DPCO.
Source: TH
9.Consider the following statements regarding Enforcement Directorate
It is economic intelligence and law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and fighting economic crimes in India.
It is responsible for enforcement of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and certain provisions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act,2002.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: ED attaches ₹
